The DeKalb County School System is announcing today results of the cost/savings analysis regarding the current Redistricting and Consolidation proposal for the School District.

The Redistricting and Consolidation plan options, which were presented to the DeKalb County Board of Education by MGT of America on Jan. 3, 2011, are designed to address inefficiencies in the facilities management of DeKalb Schools, including some 11,000 “empty seats” throughout the School District.

The plan, which must be approved by the Board of Education, will be implemented at the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year and includes two options, including a “centralized” and “decentralized” option.

Based on an internal review and consultation with the Georgia Department of Education, the School System estimates the centralized plan will save the School District approximately $150 million over the next ten years, while the decentralized plan will save approximately $161 million over the same period of time.

On an annual basis, the centralized plan would save the School System some $15 million each year, while the decentralized plan would save approximately $16 million.

These savings would be realized from increased operational efficiencies as well as anticipated annual increases in the capital facilities funding allowance from the State Department of Education.

The School System has through the month of January hosted six public meetings to discuss the Redistricting and Consolidation proposals.

Based on those meetings and other community input, the Interim Superintendent is scheduled to make a final recommendation to the Board of Education on the Redistricting and Consolidation proposals on Feb. 7, 2011.

Public hearings before the Board of Education related to the recommendations are scheduled for March 1 and March 3. The Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the Redistricting and Consolidation plan on March 7.

The Redistricting and Consolidation Plan is part of the DeKalb County School System’s 2020 Vision, a comprehensive process that will culminate in a 2020 Master Plan that will describe the facilities, programs and other needs of the school system over the next ten years and the recommended facility improvements required to meet these needs.